Zak Crawley went some way to justify his England Test call-up as he collected his highest LV= Insurance County Championship score of the season and Ben Compton scored an unbeaten century at Northampton.

Some eyebrows were raised in some quarters when Kent batter Crawley was named in the squad to face New Zealand next month having averaged under 20 in eight Championship innings in 2022.

But he impressed with a controlled 62, although it was opening partner Ben Compton who continued his annus mirabilis by creeping to his fourth century, and seventh score over 50, this season.

Compton ended the day unbeaten on 125, after a 176 run partnership with Daniel Bell-Drummond for the second wicket, as Kent posted up 286 for two on a batter-friendly opening day.

All eyes were on Crawley after Ricardo Vasconcelos had put Kent in on a wicket which looked like and proved to be good for batting. The first ball he faced was pulled forcefully to the boundary, he edged his second ball just short of second slip before another four off his hips.

The all-action opening slowed into a more sedate pace as both Crawley and Compton left and defended the ball with great skill, albeit with little movement assisting the bowlers. Crawley was particularly patient outside his off stump, with his rare cover drives checked rather than flailed to the rope.

Crawley’s half-century, his second of a disappointing campaign, came in 75 balls, with the opening duo putting on 93. Crawley edged Kelly behind when not committing to either a drive or defence just after lunch to give Northamptonshire hope of a profitable afternoon. That did not transpire.

Compton has been one of county cricket’s finds of the season, having moved from Nottinghamshire. While the 28-year-old’s style isn’t aesthetically pleasing, his numbers are incredible and are a testament to his technique and mentality.

In Division One he is: the leading runscorer (795), scored the most centuries (four), faced the most balls (1,960) and clocked up the most boundaries (98). He has now batted for 43 hours and 12 minutes, and has blocked out 1,534 dot balls – in fact, he has faced more dot balls than second-highest facer Sam Hain has seen total balls.

It took him 53 minutes to reach double figures at Wantage Road with his fifty coming in 131 deliveries. There were moments of lucidity, namely a couple of cover drives and a pull which he thought had taken him to three figures. It quickly emerged the scorers had miscounted and he was forced to celebrate his century a second time, this time after a sweep shot.

Daniel Bell-Drummond had replaced Crawley and simply kept the runs steadily amassing in the afternoon, as Northamptonshire dreamed of the second new ball. Bell-Drummond reached his third fifty of the season, but the first time couldn’t convert.

He was dropped on 77 by Emilio Gay at second slip, as the second new ball offered more movement than the first, but edged to first slip in the following over for 83. Kent suffered no further causalities as Jack Leaning and Compton remained resolute.

Northamptonshire Assistant Head Coach and Lead Bowling Coach Chris Liddle:

“We felt there would be something in the wicket especially after the rain last night and the cloudy overheads. The stats say that not many teams have lost the game bowling first here, so we thought there was enough in our favour, but it turned out to be a bit flatter than expected.

“It is still a good cricket wicket; you have to bowl well to get wickets and bat well to get runs.

“I can’t knock the lads. They have run in and hammered the wicket and made it difficult for the batters to make scores. The lads keep standing up and putting performances in. Hopefully someone gets a few wickets and get a five-for otherwise it is a good team performance.

“There won’t be any change tomorrow. We want to make it difficult for them and hopefully take some wickets as we go.”

Kent batter Ben Compton, who is unbeaten on 125:

“I think Zak looked in great touch today. A couple of us struggled to get good starts and we had to work hard as they bowled tight. It was good to see him back firing.

“He is a pretty steady and impressive character. He isn’t someone who gets to high or low and understands the game can go up and down. It was nice to see him get rewarded especially as he has played nicely in tricky periods but not quite seen the fruits of that labour.

“I don’t get bored out there, I’m just trying to do a job for the team. I know I need to bat long and be the glue and get us a strong platform at the top.

“It was tricky and I struggled for rhythm until I got to about 50-something. I grafted but Deebz and I understood it wasn’t a pitch to feel a million dollars. It is a bit on the slow side so I had to work through it and it got better.”